The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminds the state’s fishermen and others in the industry affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic that the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Oct. 26 to apply for financial aid through an LDWF-managed federal funding program.

All applications filed by the deadline will be considered for the $14.6 million Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.

To access the application, please visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/cares-act-assistance.

LDWF also reminds the public that there is only one LDWF application available for commercial fishing industry assistance via the CARES Act. Persons applying for commercial fishing industry assistance through this agency must be sure that their application says “Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries” at the top. Those applicants getting businesses to help with their application should have them verify it is the LDWF-managed CARES Act funding. Some individuals who have applied for other CARES Act funds believing they had applied for the LDWF-managed program, but had not.

If you need language assistance or assistance submitting an application, contact the South Central Planning and Development Commission (SCPDC) at 800-630-3791. SCPDC is contracted by LDWF to assist in the application process.

For more information, contact Richard Williams at rrwilliams@wlf.la.gov or 225-765-3980.